I’m a grown man and I’ve bought a 106 Quiksilver
Discussion
I really quite liked these when I was a teen but it was never going to be doable as a first car. I was paying for my own insurance and wasn’t fronting.
My brother had a 106 1.1 which I had a go in and liked if I’m honest more than the Mk2 ph1 Clio which I had.
I had a 1.1 Saxo for a year or so a while ago as well lucky boy.
I did have a 1.1 206 but only as long as it took for the clutch to disintegrate when I gleefully drove it directly to the scrapyard. Horrible thing.
The handsome 106 with 1360cc will be a beast I’m sure. I have Googled it to see how it is viewed and I found a lot of posts from people who rightly say it’s a poor relation to a GTI / VTR / VTS which is of course true- but in my head the Quiksilver should be all of that nostalgic fun but with a bit more poke?
Also have you seen the price of 205s and 106 GTIs lately?
Basically, should I be embarrassed?
My brother had a 106 1.1 which I had a go in and liked if I’m honest more than the Mk2 ph1 Clio which I had.
I had a 1.1 Saxo for a year or so a while ago as well lucky boy.
I did have a 1.1 206 but only as long as it took for the clutch to disintegrate when I gleefully drove it directly to the scrapyard. Horrible thing.
The handsome 106 with 1360cc will be a beast I’m sure. I have Googled it to see how it is viewed and I found a lot of posts from people who rightly say it’s a poor relation to a GTI / VTR / VTS which is of course true- but in my head the Quiksilver should be all of that nostalgic fun but with a bit more poke?
Also have you seen the price of 205s and 106 GTIs lately?
Basically, should I be embarrassed?
Edited by HustleRussell on Tuesday 6th July 00:12
You're going to have a lot of fun in it, and if you decide to update and upgrade stuff like brakes and suspension, you won't be disappointed and feel shortchanged in comparison to a 205 for example.
I mean, I've never owned/driven one but it's French, lightweight and designed to be chucked around - I think you've found a winner and probably the next frenchie to appreciate in value.
One thing to possibly bear in mind, the first drive might feel very raw and unusual to the point that you might feel you've made a terrible mistake - stick with it and get used to its feel and you'll soon want to exploit its abilities.
I mean, I've never owned/driven one but it's French, lightweight and designed to be chucked around - I think you've found a winner and probably the next frenchie to appreciate in value.
One thing to possibly bear in mind, the first drive might feel very raw and unusual to the point that you might feel you've made a terrible mistake - stick with it and get used to its feel and you'll soon want to exploit its abilities.
Edited by ReverendCounter on Tuesday 6th July 00:31
Rev. Surely it’s no longer allowed to modify a GTI? I don’t think I could bring myself to do it.
I spent quite a while looking for a 205 but also many of the survivors are base specs, automatics, diesels, cabriolets and 5-doors. I saw an early 5-door GT in barn find condition with the godawful suitcase engine go for £2,150. I actually messaged on an XS which didn’t have a straight panel on it and presented as a banger racer at £1,800 and was told that it was sold. At around the same time an immaculate XS sold having been listed at £7k. The one I most regretted missing out on was a 205 GR which somebody had fitted XS running gear into at £1,450.
Buying a GTI or Rallye is a bit more of a ‘custodian’ job these days isn’t it. The values and desirability are such that you have to worry about modifying it, or having it damaged or nicked. The stakes are a bit high.
GH421- I think the Quiksilver is geared short? I think I read that it is geared for 125mph in top which means it will probably be pretty buzzy. For me this is part of the fun. One of the things I most regret about NEDC testing etc is car makers fitting really long gear ratios to reduce fuel consumption.
I spent quite a while looking for a 205 but also many of the survivors are base specs, automatics, diesels, cabriolets and 5-doors. I saw an early 5-door GT in barn find condition with the godawful suitcase engine go for £2,150. I actually messaged on an XS which didn’t have a straight panel on it and presented as a banger racer at £1,800 and was told that it was sold. At around the same time an immaculate XS sold having been listed at £7k. The one I most regretted missing out on was a 205 GR which somebody had fitted XS running gear into at £1,450.
Buying a GTI or Rallye is a bit more of a ‘custodian’ job these days isn’t it. The values and desirability are such that you have to worry about modifying it, or having it damaged or nicked. The stakes are a bit high.
GH421- I think the Quiksilver is geared short? I think I read that it is geared for 125mph in top which means it will probably be pretty buzzy. For me this is part of the fun. One of the things I most regret about NEDC testing etc is car makers fitting really long gear ratios to reduce fuel consumption.
I’m looking forward to pictures and updates….
There’s nothing to be embarrassed about at all, picking up a lightweight fun machine with enough poke to have fun in at sensible speeds!
The delight of small engined French hatches of that era is hustling them along, conserving momentum wherever possible and enjoying how enjoyable actually driving something is rather just being transported.
The AX is similarly delightful to drive.
Does the Quiksilver have the alloy block?
There’s nothing to be embarrassed about at all, picking up a lightweight fun machine with enough poke to have fun in at sensible speeds!
The delight of small engined French hatches of that era is hustling them along, conserving momentum wherever possible and enjoying how enjoyable actually driving something is rather just being transported.
The AX is similarly delightful to drive.
Does the Quiksilver have the alloy block?
I lusted after these as a 17 year old too.
The 106 is a good looking little thing, right before it all went downhill for Peugeot. A friend had an entry level one as his first car and I remember it being tiny; four six formers was certainly a squeeze (I was in the front and my knees were pretty much on the dash).
I wouldn’t feel embarrassed, it’s your nostalgia so enjoy it.
This thread needs pictures though.
The 106 is a good looking little thing, right before it all went downhill for Peugeot. A friend had an entry level one as his first car and I remember it being tiny; four six formers was certainly a squeeze (I was in the front and my knees were pretty much on the dash).
I wouldn’t feel embarrassed, it’s your nostalgia so enjoy it.
This thread needs pictures though.
I had a 106xsi and later a 306gti6 and was part of an active 106 owners club in my youth.
There was a lot of quicksilvers in the club and a mate had a modified one. He did the bodywork, smoothed bumpers and stuff. Lowered it, put a load of different sets of wheels on it, different brakes, bucket seats, exhaust and all sorts of other things.
It was a great little car and loads of fun.
Sometimes I hanker after getting one mainly just for the nostalgia but I think something that handles well with low power so you can actually use whats available rather than more modern hatches where you're well into license losing territory before you're out of third could be a proper laugh.
There was a lot of quicksilvers in the club and a mate had a modified one. He did the bodywork, smoothed bumpers and stuff. Lowered it, put a load of different sets of wheels on it, different brakes, bucket seats, exhaust and all sorts of other things.
It was a great little car and loads of fun.
Sometimes I hanker after getting one mainly just for the nostalgia but I think something that handles well with low power so you can actually use whats available rather than more modern hatches where you're well into license losing territory before you're out of third could be a proper laugh.
I had a 1.4 8v early phase 2 106 as my first car. At the time, it felt quite quick compared to my friends 1.1's and 1.2's !
Mine didn't have power steering but did have the funky key code immobiliser. The quiksilver models were always on the list at the time, are they always silver? Suits it.
Mine didn't have power steering but did have the funky key code immobiliser. The quiksilver models were always on the list at the time, are they always silver? Suits it.
Don't suppose this is the one that was listed on RR recently? Both me and a friend had eyes on it after owning a 306 GTi-6 a few years back, looks like a great source of cheap thrills!
If I'm remembering right the Quiksilver follows on from the 106 XSi, which I remember the road rallying community being very fond of a few years back. I was always told that the gearbox ratios meant the 1.4 engine accelerated more like the 1.6, similar to the 205 XS and GT.
If I'm remembering right the Quiksilver follows on from the 106 XSi, which I remember the road rallying community being very fond of a few years back. I was always told that the gearbox ratios meant the 1.4 engine accelerated more like the 1.6, similar to the 205 XS and GT.
Limpet said:
We had a phase 1 XSi. Absolutely brilliant little car.
Pedal box was a joke though. I seem to remember being able to press all three pedals at once with my size 10s, and having to twist my right foot sort of clockwise to be able to press the throttle to the floor.
Haha I remember this so clearly, the accelerator pedal is tiny and was positioned really close to the wheel well so was a nightmare with certain shoes. Pedal box was a joke though. I seem to remember being able to press all three pedals at once with my size 10s, and having to twist my right foot sort of clockwise to be able to press the throttle to the floor.
It would be interesting to know if this is the RR one, as I also tried to justify it. Had few when I was younger including a GTI and an S1 Rallye. It seems quite strange now as when I had these smaller, simpler cars I always longed for a big Japanese import or fast German coupe. However once I had done that I found myself missing the simple and cheap fun that could be had from little things like these.
I had a friend who had one on a set of white Rallye S1 steels and it looked fantastic. Still looks good now.
I will follow with interest. If it is the RR one, what’s needed for the MOT?
I had a friend who had one on a set of white Rallye S1 steels and it looked fantastic. Still looks good now.
I will follow with interest. If it is the RR one, what’s needed for the MOT?
For those who have asked, yes it is the RR one. I too have missed out on plenty of interesting cars. Not this time! I had been doing plenty of thinking about small Peugeots.
The seller was pretty keen that the car shouldn’t be driven so I had to borrow a trailer. This forced me to commit a bit. It felt like a long day faffing around but having the car home has made me happy.
It is small and handsome! It’s pretty clean bar a series of door dinks down the driver’s side. The boot lid is a bit wavy. Somebody has squashed the rear jacking points. The exhaust is rattling about like a good ‘un and the passenger electric window isn’t working.
On the plus side, it has a pretty good if not full service record including a service and brakes within the past 3,000 miles. It doesn’t seem to be rusty. The engine sounds great- it does miss slightly but I bet it just needs a good run. The plates front and rear seem to be dealer plates!? so it might not have even been crashed?
I did drive it from the trailer to the driveway. The brakes are shocking from not being used but the engine has some go and all the gears and clutch work.
Having been around a few 106s and Saxos in my day I appreciate the finer things now: a non-leaking tilt and slide sunroof! Central locking! Electric driver’s window!
The internal grab handles are similar to those you would find on a body board or RIB- because Quiksilver.
Edited by HustleRussell on Tuesday 6th July 21:30
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